Libraries, funded by local taxes, are a great place to find a book, look up reference materials or trade child porn online.
Law enforcement officials are being stymied by wily librarians intent upon protecting the library patron's right "to a place where people can exercise their rights in a free society without fear that it is going to be tracked."
Library computers have been used in Colorado and elsewhere as a distribution point for child pornography. Law enforcement officials believe that's partly because the users know the machines will be flushed clean by library officials as part of their security and privacy measures, making it impossible to track who is sending child pornography.
Rather than focus on the very real problem of child porn traders using the publicly funded computers to send their vile files of kiddie porn librarians have instead chosen to draw their line in the sand on the rights of "patrons."
"Our mission is to provide access to information, and we want people to feel comfortable to pursue intellectual interests whether they are popular or not..."
Librarians feel they shouldn't have to "monitor" patrons.
Since 2002, there have been 17 child-pornography-trading cases with roots in Denver Public Library branches. Three cases occurred in libraries in Jefferson County, one in Aurora, three at colleges and universities, one in a Denver Public Schools library and one at Denver Theological Seminary's library.
Librarians say they are also sickened by child pornography but are concerned about maintaining privacy and freedom.
A matter of priorities.
Child pornography buffs can count, not only on the ACLU, but the librarians?
Public Librarians, unofficial champions of child porn traders across America.
Source -
Denver Post - Library Secure For Kid Porn
By LBG
Image [City News.Ca]
DBKP.com - Bigger, Better!.
Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.
Magic Attic.
The book series--Magic Attic, owned by Marie Osmond--was found to list a number in the back of the books leading to a phone sex line. Unusual combination: childrens' books and phone sex? The story at one library from the Tampa Bay Online:
Hillsborough County librarians spent much of Tuesday tracking down a series of children's books that referred readers to a telephone sex line.
Patricia MacMartin discovered the faulty phone number when her 9-year-old daughter asked to dial the 800 number in the back of her Magic Attic Club book. She notified library officials and when they didn't remove the books, she checked out every Magic Attic book available from her local branch, the New Tampa Regional Library.
"She did the right thing," said Braulio Colon, spokesman for the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative. "We dropped the ball; no question."
The Magic Attic series, which is coordinated with play dolls, includes more than 30 titles targeting girls between the ages of 9 and 12. It was launched in 1994 and was sold in 2001 to entertainer Marie Osmond. The company folded in 2004, and the books are out of print.
A spokeswoman for Osmond said her doll company is not responsible for the book club number. "That product line was discontinued four years ago," she said. "There was nothing we could do. The phone company resold the number."
MacMartin said she understands Osmond's position but believes the publisher still holds some responsibility.
"You can still buy these books on Amazon," she said. "It would be different if you called the number and it was a bank or something."
Colon said Hillsborough County libraries have 78 Magic Attic books, which have been in circulation since 1998. Some of the books refer readers to a different phone number, which has been disconnected.
"There are several authors associated with the Magic Attic Club," he said. "We're working tirelessly to find them all. There's nothing inappropriate with the books. We're just going to tear out the page that has the phone number for the book club."
Some attic, magic or not.
notes by Mondoreb
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